We traveled over the majestic Sawtooth Mountains into Idaho’s River of No Return Wilderness area.

At one point (by land, not water) we actually crossed the spot where Lewis & Clark decided to turn back.

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Ya, we did.

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The Middle Fork of the Salmon River has many moods…

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All equally beautiful

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River’s edge in Idaho is no slouch either

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Our camp in the middle of paradise

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Snakes were wrestled

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roasting marshmallows, slimpaley.com

Giant marshmallows slaughtered

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waterfall, Idaho, slimpaley.com

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Waterfalls conquered.

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Ahhnd… then we ate cake

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best outhouse ever, Idaho, slimpaley.com

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We definitely communed with Nature,

however I’ll spare you “Le Groover Chronicles”

Suffice it to say that old friendships were cemented and new ones quickly forged.

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One day we came upon the deserted lodgings of an infamous Middle Fork River hermit. With only a dog for company, he lived in this 8 X 8 structure for over 35 years, traveling to town just once a year for not much more than bullets, flour and salt.

I really couldn’t have imagined we had anything in common…

until I heard he also hoarded magazines.

Of course he used his to pack the spaces between the logs of his house as he had an extreme aversion to rats.

Odd lifestyle choice, considering.

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Speaking of packing… all in all I think I did pretty well- though in retrospect 4 hats and 3 books may have been a wee bit excessive.

A decent sized mirror would have been a much better choice.

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Party over

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.I live to glamp another day.

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Oh, PS.

I just realized this is my 301st post!

That means I’ve been blogging for just over two years now.

What a wonderful Blogmance it’s been- who could have predicted it would last this long?

Thank you so very much for all the memories and for never cheating on me…

Uh…We have been faithful, haven’t we??!

xxx

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PPS. For the most incredible rafting adventure you could ever wish for please visit:

59 Comments

Ok Slim, you REALLY made me miss the River!! I was a guide on the Salmon after high school, then became too busy studying interior design in college to go back. Oh, how I MISS it!! Thank you so much for your stunning photography. You truly grasped the beauty of the Salmon. She’s a grand river, that Salmon. Glad you had fun. Chic Rooms

sounds like you had a fab time! those giant marshys would make some crazy good s’mores, i bet! welcome back, and congrats on the 301st post, thank you for sharing all the beauty & laughter! i am indeed, a grateful reader, & remain faithful!!

Hi Slim, How gorgeous! Just beautiful, did you fall out? I have only been to Idaho once, and it was to pick up an irate teenager that was at a camp, in the snow, almost to Canada! I am still sorry that I took that Psychiatrist’s advice. We almost died at night driving through that mess! Love Tahoe and Aspen, but this looks exquisite! How much fun, glad your home safely! Pam

Dear Slim, So glad you’re back safe, sound and happy. Your photos are gorgeous – thanks for sharing them. Congratulations on two years of blogging. You are my favorite for sure and I missed you while you were glafting.
All the best, Ruth

I’ve traveled your trip a few times and it’s always so wonderfully and new each time.
Your photos are terrific. Living full time in the valley of your “other home” it’s still nice for
me to always remember that the Middle Fork with it’s peace and magic and escape is just over the pass.
Enjoy the rest of your stay.

What a wonderful trip you had! I ordered the survival kits for everyone in my family – perfect stocking stuffers for Christmas!

Looking at the poster for The River Wild reminded me of another river movie…The River of No Return, with Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe – I saw it many years ago, so I don’t really know how good it is, but I certainly enjoyed it as a kid!

You had me at the first photograph! Wow…what stunning countryside. Made me want to head right out the door to the Salmon River for a fabulous “Glamping” experience. I’m going to Lake Tahoe in Sept. and have heard there are some wonderful rivers for rafting….think I’ll have to check them out! Thanks for taking me to such a beautiful place….and congratulations on your 300th blog!!!

Slim, your photos are magnificent! Reminds me of the 8 day backpacking trip my
ex and I did into the Sawtooth Wilderness. Left the truck at Stanley and hiked in for
8 days. I remember the extremely cold water in the beautiful lakes, the mountain
sheep leaping and clogging on the rocks above our tent at night, the weird pink
bacteria that formed on the snowpack left at the top of the Sawtooths, and the
huge pieces of hail (golf ball size) that rained down on us as we raced the
approaching storm back to the pickup truck. Truly an amazing place on earth!

WOW WOW Slim, your pics are totally stunning, brought tears to my eyes. Happy you had such a wonderful time, how could one not surrounded by such beauty,
Congrats on two yrs, in , I will be with you all the way for sure ox

Just beautiful!! Would never have thought YOU would sleep in a tent….and there were snakes!!!! The only time I want those would be on shoes belt or bag!
Welcome back…yes of course I am always faithful!!

The pictures took my breath away. Well worth the wait (I am faithful!). That snake thing, though, hmm – I’m ok with black racers because they keep the rats down here in FL, but that thing looked definitely scary, even if I couldn’t see it’s head. No nighttime visits to the outhouse for me!!

Did you tell us the kind of camera you had several months ago? I got one but for some reason my camera is not as good as yours. Could it be the operator? Now Slim I have peeked a few times at other blogs, they are not near as clever as yours or as pretty or as much fun. D Lawrie

great pictures! I just watched a show tonight on Outdoor Idaho that showed rafting on the South Fork–they say only well experienced paddlers go there…….you were very brave especially considering that beautiful snake. But an outhouse? Whoa-a true outdoor woman!!!

Thanks for being willing to share your toys with us. I have a Panasonic Lumix & my photos don’t look anywhere as fabulous as yours. Then I remember this joke and chuckle:
A photographer went to a dinner party where he showed many of his photographs. The lady of the house said, those are very nice pictures, you must have a great camera. He said nothing, but when leaving for home offered the following compliment to the lady of the house “The meal was very nice, you must have great pots and pans.”
Best, Ruth

You made it! BRAVO. I knew the river would not swallow you up. Your photos are wonderful. You definitely captured the beauty of the Middle Fork. Now for the BIG QUESTION, Can I borrow the survival kit, packed backpack minus the books and a few new magazines…….My first river trip in Sept. 8 years in SV and I haven’t been down the river except for a few 1/2 day trips with the kids…….Any secrets you would like to share?
btw- have I told you how much I love your blog site?

Welcome back…was needing a Slim fix and there you were!
Once got to go down the Middle Fork of the Salmon as part of “conjugal” (!) visit I was sent on one summer when DH was in Moscow, ID on a month long training…..might have used the same outfitter/river guides…..loved that they turned down your sleeping bag each night with a chocolate on the pillow and produced pineapple upside-down cake over a campfire….now that’s my idea of glamping! Great memories. Thanks!

301 posts and i’ve just found you via Joni! sigh. on to the next 300 with you though! I am a Seattle/Sun Valley gal as well and have loved your lovely posts about my favorite place on earth…. we were married at River Run in 99, complete with a brown bear cub crashing the party at dusk! thanks for solving the mystery of Chateau too. was in sv the first half of July and wondered what was up with the wacko assortment. on the up side, Rolling in Dough is a fun addition to the valley, but dangerous…! trying to sneak away at the end of the month to get back to sv before the kiddies start school! keep the lovely inspiration coming! Dana

Slim, really, who could cheat on you? Your blog is THE one, on occasion I look at others but you really are in a league by your self (and isn’t that really what one wants to hear?).

No other person/blog has inspired me to buy a pair of Gap panties for myself or purchase games, Bananagrams for a gift. Also still chuckle over an email exchange about paying to hit tennis balls at Camille Grammer.

I think you were quite brave to photograph that snake. I was FAR too close to one a week ago when jumping into a river. I came up from below the surface to hear a friend screaming at me to get out of the water…..apparently there was a water snake about two feet from me. Thankfully I did not see the snake while I was in the water as I think I may have passed out from fright. Live and let live but not close to me please!!